Bruce Taylor - Acoustic Weston - Take It From Dr. King - Pete Seeger

Описание: Bruce Taylor taught history for 36 years in Connecticut. He performed this at Acoustic Weston April 26, 2014. He had just told the story of first meeting Pete Seeger, becoming his luthier, and performed another song.

I'm sorry to have not recorded that story, but, will do my best to repeat my recollection of what Bruce had said, just before he performed Take It From Dr. King, as it was a sweet remembrance of Pete Seeger.

He said years ago he had heard Pete Seeger's 12 string, and loved the sound, and so, he got a Guild 12 string. It just didn't have the sound. Then, a Martin 12 string. Not the same.

He somehow found Pete's management to ask about the guitar, and they said..."why don't you just ask him?"

"Well, how do I do that", he had asked, and was told--Pete plays along the Hudson all the time, find him, and just ask. Well, he found one of the events, and as he approached there was a guy picking up litter--Pete Seeger.

So, went up, introduced himself, and...asked about the guitar. Pete was talking to him, and led him up to look at his guitar.

But, as they were getting interrupted by folks trying to talk to Pete, get autographs, etc... Pete said, c'mon, let's take a walk, and they went off alone toward the river. He explained that he liked a longer fretboard to give him a different vocal range, and that he used heavier strings--which helped give it that deeper tone, different than other 12 strings.

And, Pete handed him his guitar to try out.

Someone came up, and said, "Pete--you're on in 5 minutes". Pete says Bruce, "Why don't you hang onto the guitar for a while, play it..."

"But, you're going on stage in 5 minutes..." Pete said, "Oh, I'll just play the banjo for a while, just bring it over to the stage whenever you're done checking it out..."

He didn't know this man at all, but, even as a show was starting, left him with his 12 string, to play, enjoy, and understand.

Well, as it worked out, he became Pete's luthier, and made his guitars and banjos thereafter. And, for the banjo, Pete also liked the longer fretboard, leading to a slightly different banjo that he played...with a very long neck...and you hear that at the beginning of this cut.